Big trouble in little Tuvalu as Queen is pulled into political row

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dance with locals during a visit to Tuvalu last yearArthur Edwards/The Sun

The Queen has been dragged into a constitutional row blowing up in one of the world’s smallest countries.

Trouble flared in the tiny Pacific nation of Tuvalu after its prime minister and governor-general tried to sack each other, according to sources in the capital, Funafuti.

The tit-for-tat dismissals came after the Prime Minister, Willy Telavi, refused to allow Parliament to debate a no-confidence motion in his Government, which has been in power since late 2010. “It’s a very complex and confusing constitutional crisis that we’re facing,” sources said.

The move prompted the Governor-General, Iakoba Italeli, to order Mr Telavi’s removal.

The Prime Minister reacted by firing off a letter to the Queen informing her that he was dismissing Mr Italeli from his position.